Heartbroken Busy Philipps on James Van Der Beek Missing Dawson’s Creek Reunion

Busy Philipps got emotional as she reflected on the bittersweet Dawson’s Creek reunion due to James Van Der Beek’s absence amid his stage 3 colorectal cancer battle.

After reuniting with Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams at the event on Monday, the actress, 46, took to her Instagram Story to reflect on the ‘really incredible and very special’ evening. 

‘Obviously James not being able to get there was heartbreaking for a million different reasons,’ she explained. ‘But I was so glad that Kimberly and all the kids and his dad and sister and Kimberly’s family and closest friends [were there].’

She continued: ‘It was just really beautiful. And James is getting lots of videos and Facetimes and texts and things and we just love him so much.’

Van Der Beek, 48, was, sadly, forced to pull out of the highly anticipated reunion, just days before after falling ill with two stomach viruses during his treatment.

Instead, the actor’s wife Kimberly brought their six children — Olivia, 14, Joshua, 12, Annabel, 10, Emilia, 8, Gwendolyn, 6, and Jeremiah, 3 — to surprise the audience.

In one of the night’s most touching moments, the children performed the show’s beloved theme song, I Don’t Wanna Wait by Paula Cole, with Olivia and Emilia singing the verses before the whole family joined in for the chorus.

The poignant performance left fans and cast members visibly emotional. 

Meredith Monroe, who played Andie McPhee, wiped away tears, while Michelle Williams wrapped her arms around Mary Beth Peil, who played her on-screen grandmother.

Michelle, 45, was also revealed to be the driving force behind the reunion. 

Not only did she rally her former castmates to perform a live reading of the pilot episode, but she also arranged for her close friend Lin-Manuel Miranda to step in for Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery.

Van Der Beek also managed to surprise his fans with a pre-recorded video message.

‘I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together,’ he said. ‘I can’t believe I’m not there. I can’t believe I don’t get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person.’

Meanwhile, Kimberly shared her own reflections after the show, praising Michelle and her husband, Broadway producer Thomas Kail, for making the trip ‘a dream come true’ for their children. 

‘The entire cast has been beyond words, words will never do justice for their support,’ she said. ‘Just feeling my husband fill the entire theatre and the love for him … It was a beautiful night and I miss my husband. I can’t wait to get back to see him tomorrow’

Though Van Der Beek couldn’t be there in person, his presence loomed large as his Dawson’s Creek family reunited for the first time in 22 years to raise money for his F Cancer initiative. 

At one point, Philipps teamed up with Jackson to recreate one of the show’s most controversial scenes, which ended with a passionate kiss. 

Although Philipps originally played Joey’s college roommate and Pacey’s girlfriend, for the reunion she stepped into the role of Pacey’s scandalous first lover: his high school English teacher, Tamara Jacobs. 

In November, James revealed his stage three colorectal cancer diagnosis.

At the time, the star said that he had been ‘privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it with the support’ from his loved ones.

‘I have colorectal cancer. There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good,’ he told People.

A few months earlier in July, the star gave an update amid his cancer battle during an interview on Today.

He explained that he has made major lifestyle changes such as focusing on a healthier diet and doing yoga.

‘The beauty of just taking things a little bit more slowly and prioritizing rest and really allowing that to be the job, I’m just on the journey.’

The Hollywood actor added: ‘it’s a process. It’ll probably be a process for the rest of my life.’